Typewriter mechanism



June 14, 1960 w. D. MERRILL 2,940,576

TYPEWRITER MECHANISM Filed June 23, 1958 8 la ifi- W/ZL/AM 0 MERE/1L,

INVENTOR.

WHANN 8 "CHAN/GAL Iii/army: far A I/can/ nited States Patent TYPEWRITER NIECHANISM William Merrill, 7729 W. Norton Ave, Hollywood, Calif.

Filed June 23, 1958, Ser. No. 743,752

8 Claims. (Cl. 197-17) This invention relates to typewriting machines provided with power operated means for actuating the type bars which are under control of the usual manually operable keys, and relates more particularly to means actuating and controlling the printing instrumentalities of such typewriting machines.

While the invention has particular utility in connection with electric typewriters, and is shown and described in such connection, it is to be understood that its utility is not confined thereto.

The type bars of electric typewriters presently in use are activated by respective finger-operated keys which initiate a trigger action. This causes the power mechanism to actuate the respective type bar to effect an imprint of a desired letter or character, the action being effected consecutively as the respective keys are depressed. For each letter written there is an individual, distinct operation of each finger and an appreciable delay between that movement and the striking of the next key by the same or another finger.

In the present invention certain selected keys on the keyboard perform their function, not on the downward or depression stroke as heretofore, but as the finger leaves the key and the latter returns to its top or normal position by its spring so that it causes the power mechanism to actuate the respective type bar or other desired mechanism with the upward or return movement of such key.

A large percentage of written matter consists of an alternation of consonants and vowels, also there is the necessary, frequent spacing between words. Consequently, a desirable form of the keyboard of the present invention provides for actuation of the type bars of the vowels, and also spacing mechanism by the upward movement of the respective keys therefor and space bar, the type bars of the consonants and other characters being actuated on the downward movement of the respective keys as in present machines. This arrangement permits the operator of the machine, when desiring to print a consonant and the usually succeeding vowel, to depress the respective keys therefor simultaneously, the consonant being printed on the down stroke and the vowel being printed on the upward movement of the key as the finger leaves it, so that the two letters are written with one motion of the respective fingers rather than with two consecutive motions thereof.

It is another object of the invention to provide simple and effective means for efiecting operative action of preselected mechanisms of electric typewriters when the respective manually operable parts are returned to their normal position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means of this character which may be readily installed in present electric typewriters.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of this character that is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufiiciently referred to in connection with the folice lowing detailed description of the accompanying drawings which represent one embodiment. After consider ing this example, skilled persons will understand that variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed and I contemplate the employment of any structures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a type bar and its actuating mechanism embodying the present invention and showing the parts in their position before the key is depressed;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the parts in their position when the key has been actuated to its downward position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but including a part of the platen, showing parts of the mechanism in their position after the operators finger has been raised so that the key has returned to its normal upper position and the type bar has come into contact with the platen;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower end of the escapement lever; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the opposite side of the cam unit embodying the present invention with a portion broken away to show interior construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the mechanism includes a platen indicated generally at P, and a power roller, indicated generally at R, the latter rotating constantly in the direction of the arrows.

There is a key bar 2 which is pivoted at 3 to a stationary support, not shown, an arrangement that is wellknown. The key bar 2 is provided with a key 4- and has a free end portion 5 operably received in slots 6 provided therefor in a guide and stop member 7.

A type bar 8 is pivoted in the usual manner at 9 to a stationary support, not shown, the free end of the type bar 8 carrying the usual type 10 and adjacent the opposite end of type bar 8 is a lever 11 extending at an acute angle relative to the type bar. A retracting spring 12 is provided and is connected to the lever 11 for moving the type bar to the retracted or rest position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lever 11 is operably connected at 14 to one end of a connecting rod 15, the opposite end of said connecting rod operably connected at 16 to an arm 17 of a bell crank 18 which is pivotally mounted on the pivot 3.

Associated with the power roller R is a cam unit, indicated generally at 20, comprising a bell crank assembly 22, which includes a pair of identically formed lower plates 24 and 26, except that said plates are of opposite hand, the bell crank assembly having an arm 25 including end portions 27 of the plates 24 and 26, said end portions being secured together by any suitable means such as a rivet 28. These end portions 27 are in contact with each other. Each of the plates 24 and 26 are cit-set at 30 so that the remaining portions of the plates are spaced apart in the usual manner and are pivoted on a pivot pin 32 secured to a suitable fixed support. The free end of the arm 25 is operably connected by means of a link 34 with lever part 36 of the bell crank 18. The other arm of the bell crank assembly 22 comprises the depending arms 38 of the plates 24 and 26 and between said arms 38 is a double lobe cam 40 0f well-known construction and shape, the cam 40 having a pair of oppositely disposed lugs 42 extending laterally in the same direction at one side thereof. Cam 40 is pivoted between the arms 38 on a pivot pin 46 which has its ends secured in said arms. An escapement or detent lever 50 is pivotally mounted, intermediate its ends, on a pivot pin 52 which extends between the plates 24 and 26 and is secured thereto. The upper end of the escapement lever 50 is pivotally connected by means of a pin 54 to awa e an *56'ofthe key bar 2, said arm 56 extending downwardly from said bar 2. One end of said pin 54 is disposed within an opening 57 in arm 38 of plate 26 in the usual manner.

The lower free end portion of the escapenientlever 50.

V or outer side edge'64 of the tongue 60 there is a lug 66 turned similarly to that of the lug 62 but ofi-set from the lug 62 toward the adjacent, portion of the 38. Adjacent the inner side of the plate 24, as best shown in Fig. 5, there is a lever 79 pivoted adjacent its upper end on the pivot 52. A'coil spring 72 is disposed about the pivot 52. One end of spring 72 is engageable with a lateral extension 73 of lever 70 while the opposite end engages a lug 74 so that said spring urges the lower end portion '75 of lever 70 toward the pivot pin 46 The adjacent side of the cam 40 is provided with a pair of laterally projecting pins 76 at opposite sides of the axis of pivot pin 46 and adapted to be engaged by the lever.

portion 75. When the cam is in the normal inoperative position, one of the pins 76 is so positioned as to hold the lower end portion of the lever 70 away from the pivot pin 46 so that the force of the coil spring 72 is transmitted through the lever 70 to urge the cam 40 in the clockwise direction as seen in Figsgl, 2 and 3. 7

'However, the cam is held in. a'normal inoperative position out of contact with the roller R by engagement of one of the lugs'42 with the projection 62 as best seen in Fig. 1, said projection normally being inthe path of said lug. When the key lever 2 is actuated in'the clockwise direction from the normalposition'shown in 'FigQl to the position shown in Fig. 2, the escapement lev e ritl is actuated counterclockwise a predetermined distance so that the projection 62 is moved out of the path of said respective lug 42. The lever 70 thereupon causesa clockwise rotation of the cam 40 until the said lug -42engages the projection 66 which is now in'the pathlot movement of said lug. Cam 40, however, has not moved a sufficient distance to engage the power roller R at this time. Upon release of the key lever 2, the latteris returned to its normal position shown in Fig. 'liby means of the usual return spring 78. This movement of the key lever 2 in the counterclockwise direction .causes' a limitedclockwise movement of the escapernentlever 50 suflicient to move the projection '66 out of the path of s'aidrespective lug 42 thereupon releasing the cam and permitting the lever 70 to urge same furtherjn the clockwise direction until the. adjacent face of. saidcam engages the power roller .8. to cause operative movement of the cam unit 20in a counterclockwise direction to effect actuation of the .type.

bat-. 8 in the well-known manner. .In Fig. '3 the carnal) is shown in a partially rotated position fa d since the escapement lever 50 is inithenormal position again, the projection 62 is in the path of the lug 42*so that the other lug 42strikes said projection'to'stop further rotation of. the cam 40 and'retain same in the normal, inoperative position. 7

In Fig. 1 there is also shown a double lobecam unit, indicated generally af h dapw f o erat on bars when a key is depressed. One known device of this character is used in the International electric writing machines, alth'ough any other suitabletype ofrcamnnit that will operatethe type bar upon depression of itsrkey may be used. a i

This unit 80 is controlled .by'a key bar 82 which is connected to the unit 80 by means .o'f ia downwardly projecting arm 84 of bar 82. The unit 80-is also con nected" to its respective type bar, not shown, by means of a link 85. A space bar 86 is connected, by means'of alever 87, with'another doubleilobe cam unit 20, not

shown, for operating the spacing mechanism in the wellknown manner. V

With the foregoing in view, one arrangement that ma be provided for an electric writing machine is to have the consonant keys connected to cam units 80 which will cause the type bar to be actuated when the consonant keys are depressed. The vowel keys are connected to units which actuate the type bars when the keys are released and thespace bar is also connected to a unit 20 to cause spacing when the space bar is released. Thus, the operator when a vowel follows 1110011801131, may

depress both the consonant and the vowel 'keys simultaneously with one movement and efiect actuation of the consonant type bar with the down movement and eifect actuation of the vowel type bar when the keys are released. Also, when a word ends in a consonant, the consonant key and the space bar may be simultaneously depressed and released to 'efiect actuation of the last, letter of the 'word with depression of said ky and space bar and spacing of the carriage with release'thereof; It will be readily apparent that typing speed may'be materially increased. a

'As' pointed out above, an important feature of the present invention is the provision of means 'fqreifeeting actuation of certain type bars of a power operated typewriter upon the downward movement of certain key bars and actuation of other type'bars upon upward movement of other respective key bars. This objective of themes ent invention is eifected by the cam type of mechanism herein shown and de'scribedbut it is to be iinderstood that the inventive concept may be embodied'in other types of arrangements such as, for example, mechanical, pneumati 'or electrical means. a

It is thought that the f vention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from thetoregoing description andit'is thought that it Will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope"thereof or Sacrificing all of its material advantages, the embodiment hereinbefore described being'merely one arrangemeh't.

iclairn: 7 T j 1. In a typewriting machine havingcar-riage spacing mechanism, a platen, a plurality of type-bars, aplurality of key bars, and a power operated roller: apair of cam units operably connected with respectedtype bars and key bars; 'a lobed cam for each cam unit, said'cams .being operably positioned relative to said power roller;

means, controlled by lone'ot the key'bars, for causing the cam of one of the cam units to engage thepower roller upon depression of said' key -bar and efiect actuation of a respective .typeb'ar; and'means'connected-with another key bar for controlling the cam of theother cam unit to efiect operable engagement of the power roller by a lobe of the cam only upon upward movement of the'respective key bar to effect succeeding actuation of a respective type bar.

2. In a typewriting machine having a plurality of type bars, control barsfand a power operated rollerf a pair of cam units operably connected with respective type bars and control bars; a lobed'cam for each camj unit, said cams being normally positioned out ofen'gage'ment with said power roller; means,- controlled byon'e'ofthe control bars, 'for causing the camof one ofthe cam units to engage the power 'rollfer upondepressionpf said control bar; and means connected with another control bar for controlling the cam of the other cam unit to effect operable engagement of the power roller by a lobe of the card only upon upward movement of said control bar after engagement of the power roller 'by-"the cam of said one cam unit. .3. In a typ'e'wn'ting machine having a plurality of controlbars, and a power operated rollerz'a pair of cam units operably connected with respective controlbars; a lobed cam for'each cam unit, said cams being 'operably positioned relative to said power roller; means, controlled by one of the control bars, for causing the cam of one of the cam units to engage the power roller only upon depression of said control bar; and means connected with another control bar for controlling the cam of the other cam unit to efiect succeeding operable engagement of the power roller by a lobe of the cam of said other cam unit only upon upward movement of another control bar.

4. In a typewriting machine including a plurality of type bars, and respective key bars therefor: power actuated means; and normally inoperative connection means controlled by respective key bars to efiect engagement with said power actuated means to operatively connect said power actuated means with respective type bars, a group of said key bars eflecting operative connection of said connection means with said power actuated means upon depression of said key bars, and certain other key bars effecting operative connection of said connection means with said power actuated means upon upward movement of said key bars whereby when one of said other key bars is actuated together with one of said group of key bars and both are released, the type bar controlled by the key bar of said group is actuated to type an impression and then the bar controlled by the key of said other key bars is actuated to type a succeeding impression.

5. In a typewriting machine: power actuated means; a plurality of type bars; respective control bars therefor; and means to etfect operation of a type bar by said power actuated means upon depression of a respective control bar and to etfect operation of another type bar upon upward movement of another control bar.

6. In a typewriting machine: a plurality of parts to be actuated, said parts being biased to a normal rest position; a movable control member for each of said parts, said control members having a normal rest position to which they are biased and from which they are movable; means controlled by one of said control members for effecting actuation of a respective part through a cycle of operation from its normal position, to an operative position, and releasing same for return to the normal position upon movement of said member away rom its rest position; and means controlled by another control member for effecting actuation of a respective part through a cycle of operation from its normal position, to an operative position, and releasing the same for return to the normal position upon movement of said member toward its normal rest position after the first respective part has completed its cycle.

7. In a typewriting machine having power actuated means, two sets of type bars, and respective control bars therefor: means to effect operation of a type bar of one set by said power actuating means upon depression of a respective control bar; and means to effect successive operation of a type bar of the other set upon upward movement of a respective control bar.

8. In a typewriting machine having power actuated means, two sets of type bars, and respective control bars therefor: means to effect operation of a type bar of one set of bars by said power actuated means upon depression of a respective control bar; and means to effect operation of a type bar of the other set upon upward movement of another, respective control bar whereby, when said respective control bars are simultaneously depressed and released for upward movement the type bar of said first set makes an imprint and then the type bar of the other set makes a succeeding imprint.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,753,495 Bardwell Apr. 8, 1930 2,315,689 Davidson Apr. 6, 1943 2,458,339 Buhler et al. Jan. 4, 1949 

